Whether you plan to use it for fishing or to assist with docking, the best Minn Kota trolling motor for pontoon boats and the quick-release mount are great auxiliary accessories to have on a pontoon boat.
A trolling motor from Minn Kota is a self-contained unit that includes an electric motor and can become a great addition to your pontoon boat. They’re also very useful for fine adjustments or parking and especially for use while fishing.
Here you’ll learn everything about Minn Kota trolling motors, what size you need for your pontoon, and whether to mount it on your stern or bow.
If you are looking for other great pontoon fishing accessories for your next day on the lake, we’ve got you covered. You may be interested in our recent reviews on the best nflatable pontoon boats and fishing float tubes.
Beyond fishing, we invite you to browse our reviews on high-rated inflatable paddleboards, insane towable tubes, pontoon diving boards, and great gifts for friends and family.
Don’t have a lot of time, skip the detail and browse our picks of the best Minn Kota trolling motor for pontoon boats immediately below.
Best Minn Kota Trolling Motors for Pontoon Boats
| No. | Trolling Motor Name | Max Boat Weight | Max Boat Length | Shaft Length | Thrust | Foot Pedal | Rating |
| 1. | Minn Kota Powerdrive 55 | 2500 LBS | 21′ Recommended | 54″ or 60″ | 45 LBS | Included | [5.0/5.0] |
| 2. | Minn Kota 70 Hand | 2500 LBS | 21′ Recommended | 48″ or 52″ | 55 LBS | Optional | [5.0/5.0] |
| 3. | Minn Kota Powerdrive 45 | 2500 LBS | 21′ Recommended | 45″ or 60″ | 55 LBS | Included | [5.0/5.0] |
| 4. | Minn Kota Powerdrive 68 | 2500 LBS | 21′ Recommended | 48″ or 52″ | 55 LBS | Included | [5.0/5.0] |
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More Great Pontoon Trolling Motors to Consider
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Best Minn Kota Saltwater Trolling Motors for Pontoon Boats
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Top Selling Minn Kota Pontoon Quick Release Mount & Accessories
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About Minn Kota Trolling Motors
Minn Kota was founded in 1934 when inventor O.G. Schmidt designed the first gear-driven electric trolling motor in Fargo, North Dakota. His idea gained traction and became popular with local anglers looking for more boat control. Schmidt named his company after the land he called home, in the heart of the fishing country.
For more than 85 years, Minn Kota has employed American anglers to “build the best fishing gear on the water”.
Where Are Minn Kota Motors for Pontoon Boats Made?
Per the Minn Kota website, the motors are made “in the heart of fishing country, on the MINNesota-North DaKOTA border, Minn Kota was born.” Today, the company designs, services and manufactures their trolling motors from their headquarters in Mankato, Minnesota.
Background on Minn Kota Trolling Motor & Mount for Pontoon Boats
Minn Kota claims to “build the toughest, most innovative trolling motors” and that’s why they always get the best reviews.
Fans of the company also believe they build the fastest, quietest, deepest-reaching shallow water anchors and the most advanced battery chargers ever made.
When the equipment on your boat all works together, you spend less time adjusting and more time fishing. From your trolling motor to your fish finder and shallow water anchor, we created the One-Boat Network to help you do more of what you love to do.
Minn Kota
Top 5 Reasons to Choose Minn Kota Trolling Motors & Mounts on a Pontoon Boat
1. Great selection of trolling motors with the right thrust for an boat.
2. Easy DIY installation.
3. Foot control option for excellent maneuverability.
4. Best trolling motor warranty in the business.
5. Both freshwater and saltwater trolling motor product options.
What is the Best Thrust Selection for a Pontoon Boat
It’s important to keep in mind that boat weight is the most important criteria to use when selecting an appropriate motor size for your pontoon boat. Boat length is often considered as a helpful guideline but should not be used as a primary determinant of motor size. If you’re unsure how much your boat weighs, you can look it up in the NADA boat directory.
Trolling Motors review guide suggests that multi-use pontoon owners tend to select 40 to 70 lbs of thrust, depending on the boat’s weight. While propulsion on pontoon boats is relatively easy, keeping them in Anchor Mode (aka Spot-Lock) or a steady course (Auto-Pilot) can be challenging. Especially on windy days when your pontoon acts like a sail on the water!
| Boat Weight (lbs) | 1,000 | 1,500 | 2,000 | 2500 | 3,000 | 3,500 | 4,000 | 5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boat Length | Sub 14′ | 15-16′ | 17′ | 18′ | 19′ | 20′ | 21′ | 21’+ |
| Minimum Thrust | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 |
| Performance Thrust* | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 100+ |
| Motor Voltage | 12v | 12v | 12v | 24v | 24v | 24v | 36v | 36v |
What is the Best Length Shaft for a Pontoon Boat
You will want to choose a trolling motor with at least a 42″ shaft but 48″ or 52″ are recommended for pontoon installation due to the height off the water.
Do I Need the Minn Kota Deckhand Anchor Winch?
With the Deckhand anchor, you can automatically raise and lower your anchor at the touch of a button. This is a great addition to any pontoon but not a necessity.
The DeckHand 40 has a 40-lb anchor capacity and is pre-spooled with 100 feet of 800-lb test nylon rope. The universal davit can be mounted at the base of the DeckHand or in remote position on a boat deck. The davit also stows anchor horizontally to eliminate anchor swing.
The anchor shackle allows for quick changes between anchors. In addition, a special anti-drag system senses the bottom to allow for controlled drifting. The Deckhand runs on a 12-volt battery and the remote accessory allows for 25′ corded remote operation.
- Davit can be mounted at base of DeckHand or in remote position on deck
- 20-lb to 40-lb anchor capacity (anchor not included)
- Pre-spooled with 100 feet of 800-lb test nylon rope
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Do I Need the Minn Kota Quick Release Mount / Bracket for My Pontoon?
We highly recommend adding the quick-release bracket to your pontoon. It allows the trolling motor to be quickly removed from and reattached to the boat deck. The side screw design attaches the trolling motor to the top bracket and slides into the deck-mounted bottom bracket, secured with tightening a screw.
The quick-release bracket is made of solid, anodized aluminum construction and is compatible with Ultra, Terrova, Power Drive, Power Drive V2, Power Drive Pontoon and Deckhand 40.
- Allows trolling motor to be quickly removed from and reattached to boat deck
- Sidescrew design attaches trolling motor to top bracket and slides into deck-mounted bottom bracket, secured with tightening...
- Solid, anodized aluminum construction
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Where is the Best Place to Install a Trolling Motor on a Pontoon?
The decision to add a trolling motor is easy, but more important is the decision on how and where to mount your pontoons trolling motor. In most cases, you’ll want to mount your pontoon trolling motor on the bow of the boat.
Using a bow-mounted pontoon trolling motor has many advantages over stern-mounted motors. A bow-mounted pontoon trolling motor gives you better control and allows you to more easily maneuver your pontoon boat. This is ideal trolling motor placement when trolling while dragging a fishing line, or docking your ungraceful deck boat.
How do You Install Minn Kota Trolling Motors & Mounts on a Pontoon Boat
Your new Minn Kota PowerDrive comes with everything you’ll need to directly install it to your pontoon boat. The motor can be directly mounted to the boat or coupled with a Minn Kota quick release bracket for ease of mounting and removal.
For detailed installation with a quick-release bracket, refer to the installation instructions here. Also, check out the video below for reference.
How do You Use a Minn Kota Trolling Motor?
Each Minn Kota trolling motor your pontoon boats come with a detailed manual on how to install the motor and maneuver the boat. Here are some of the features discussed in the manual.
Controlling Speed and Steering With the Foot Pedal
- Using the momentary button and constant switch
- Controlling your speed
- Steering right and steering left
- How to use the foot pedal
- Steering in reverse
Utilizing Autopilot Controls Using the AutoPilot heading
- Adjusting for possible deviation due to wind and current
- How and when to use the autopilot button
- Toggle autopilot on and off
There are also a ton of YouTube videos on how to use your Minn Kota pontoon trolling motor that are easy to follow.
Can a Minn Kota Pontoon Trolling Motor be Used in Saltwater Applications?
If you purchase a freshwater Minn Kota trolling motor for your boat, it cannot be used in saltwater as it will void the warranty. You can, however, purchase a trolling motor made for saltwater applications. Here is a note from Minn Kota regarding your motor and saltwater applications.
We designed a special line of motors for use in salt or brackish water. The Minn Kota Riptide trolling motors have a number of “saltwater-engineered” enhancements, including stainless steel hardware, sealed electrical connections and an advanced painting process for improved corrosion protection.
Using any of our standard Minn Kota motors in saltwater may dramatically reduce the life of the motor and voids the manufacturer’s warranty. To extend the life of your Minn Kota Riptide saltwater trolling motor, thoroughly rinse the motor with freshwater after every use in saltwater and store indoors.
Never leave the motor submerged in saltwater when the boat is moored.
What is the Warranty on Minn Kota Trolling Motors for Pontoon Boats?
Minn Kota offers a limited 2-year warranty on the entire product and a limited lifetime warranty on the entire composit shaft.
Minn Kota warrants that their freshwater trolling motor will be materially free from defects in materials and workmanship appearing within two (2) years after the date of purchase. They will either repair or replace, free of charge, any parts found to be defective during the term of this warranty. Such repair or replacement shall be the sole and exclusive liability of Minn Kota / JOME and the sole and exclusive remedy of the purchaser for breach of this warranty.
Minn Kota Trolling Motor Reviews Found Online
Below are a handful of Minn Kota trolling motors review found online.
“I love the trolling motor, no complaints.”
“I am 67 years old and have owned all types of trolling motors. By far this Minn Kota Ultrex is the best I have ever owned. PROS: It is simple to operate and has all the bells and whistles! CON: The only con is the price.
“I love my new Minn Kota Ultrex. It was very simple to install. Everything I needed was in the box. The spot lock is the best feature of the Ultrex. My only complaint is the Knob that controls the tension is hard to get to after you have mounted the foot pedal.”
“I am impressed with the spotlock feature, it’s dead on. This is going to make a huge difference in fishing in the wind. I have mainly been fishing open water this winter and have not had a chance to evaluate the responsiveness of fishing tight to cover. I think it will work fine once I get used to it. So far very happy with the purchase.”
Other Great Pontoon Trolling Motors and Mounts to Consider
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Best Handheld Fish Finders
While you’re here, if you haven’t already, take note of the popularity of handheld fish finders. They are gaining popularity for shore, float tube, and inflatable pontoon fishing. They’ll detect and display water depth, approximate fish location, short & tall weeds, and sand & rocks on the bottom. In many cases, their portable design gives you another option to hang it around your neck.
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